Grant to Aid Intertribal Group's Buffalo Restoration Effort Story-Date: 12:16 a.m. PST Saturday , October 10, 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------ Grant to Aid Intertribal Group's Buffalo Restoration Effort By Jennifer Peterka, Indian Country Today, Rapid City, S.D. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Oct. 5--RAPID CITY, S.D.--The goal of restoring buffalo herds to American Indian lands in 16 states gained wider focus for the InterTribal Bison Cooperative as it held its first national conference in late September in Denver. The 46 member tribes combine their efforts through environmental restoration, economic development and cultural and spiritual revitalization to develop herds. A recent $308,322 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services will spur those efforts. "The grant will enable us to refine culturally appropriate development activities using buffalo. To develop an economic base for the buffalo within the American Indian cultural frame work," Mark Heckert, executive director said. The grant makes up 70 percent of the group's annual budget. Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., lauded efforts of the organization, saying, "InterTribal Bison Cooperative is one of the most outstanding economic development successes in Indian country. ITBC is a prime example of a thriving tribal corporation and self-sufficiency program. I am pleased the Bison Cooperative has received this funding to continue their basic business development programs, and I am committed to advancing their successful work." "Each of the tribes has their own needs and desires for the buffalo. Buffalo have provided for Indian people throughout time and it can do it again," Mr. Heckert, said. "Buffalo are simply more feasible to raise. They thrive on native grasses. Their metabolism is better for the area. They don't require special provisions like cattle do. It just makes sense," he said. The cooperative acts as a facilitator for tribes, offering educational and training programs, developing marketing strategies, coordinating the transfer of buffalo from national parks to tribal lands, providing technical assistance for herd management and pursuing funding for the program. ----- Visit Indian Country Today on the World Wide Web at http://www.indiancountry.com/ (c) 1998, Indian Country Today, Rapid City, S.D. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. ------------------------------------------------------------